Station sampling radio



E. T. MOLXNARO STATION SAMPLING RADIO Filed Sept. 17, 1957 6 6 4f Wm 6 r r @m m My w WM N 2 0 a c N a Z T Z 0 Z w w A, 0 I 0 00 6 II 4 k 4 J I l MW Mar WW I vw or; @iili: l 5 V a m, w F L fiO 4 F||l IBBI l 6 MW 2, Q m w I? 2 J M 7 a 6 NM M a mm y b f 1 7 W m 0 5/ M Sept. 29, 1959 INVENTOR.

United States Patent STATION SAMPLING RADIO Edward Thomas Molinaro, Carbondale, Pa.

Application September 17, 1957, Serial No. 684,580

7 Claims. (Cl. 250-40) This invention relates to radios and more particularly to an automatic signal seeking radio.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a signal seeking radio having means for scanning the radio dial to automatically tune in on the next station of the dial, remain tuned on that station for a predetermined period of time and to then automatically tune in on the next subsequent station on the dial.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a signal seeking radio of the above type in which the tuner will automatically tune in on each station of the dial, pausing briefly at each station to permit the listener to determine whether that station is to be listened to, and to then proceed to the next station, automatically,

additional means being provided whereby the tuning can.

be selectively halted so as to maintain the radio in tuned position at any particular station.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a station sampling radio bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a station sampling radio made in accordance with one form of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modified form of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to Figure l of the drawing, a control circuit 10 made in accordance with one form of the present invention is shown to include a relay 11 for operating a first set of contacts 24, 30, 13. As the radio is turned on, the relay 11 shown in a closed position closes the motor circuit through contacts 13, 14 to energize the tuning motor 16 from source 41 to commence the movement of the pointer to scan the dial. It is assumed that as the radio was turned on it was not tuned to a station, therefore no negative voltage was on the grid 23 of the tube 22 allowing plate current to energize relay 11 which closes contacts 24-26, Bil-31, 1314 as shown to commence the movement of the pointer to scan the dial. The closure of contacts 24, 26 initiates charging of condenser A or B from voltage source 28. As a station is encountered, the automatic volume control voltage at 20 is applied through closed contacts 30, 31 to develop a voltage across the grid resistor 21 of the control tube 22 causing the plate current of the control tube 22 to drop, thereby causing the relay 11 to open the contacts 13, 14, opening the motor circuit which stops the tuning means and allows the station to be heard. At the same time the relay 11 opens the contacts 13, 14, it also opens contacts 30, 31, disconnecting the voltage at 20 and closes the contacts 24, 25, thus connecting in place of said voltage the charged condenser B which will maintain negative voltage on the grid 23 2,905,875 Patented Sept. 29, 1959 until it leaks ofi ten seconds later through the resistor 21. (Switch 70 is shown in the condenser B position, the purpose of this switch being to select either condenser B or condenser A, condenser A having twice the capacity as that of condenser B would then hold each station for 20 seconds instead of 10 seconds as referred to with condenser B.) Following this, negative voltage is no longer on the grid of the tube, whereby plate current will again rise in the tube 22 and the relay 11 will again close the contacts 13, 14 et cetera, to repeat the above-described operation. This will energize the motor and allow the next station to be heard or sampled for the ten second period, following which the cycle is started again. The acutal scanning of the dial is in accordance with conventional sequences of operation and is not discussed in detail here.

When the listener hears a station that he desires to hold, he can do so by pressing the switch 33' on radio dial or floor button 35 which will open the B+ supply causing the relay 11 to open the contacts 13, 14, stopping the tuning means and allowing the station to be heard. After listening to this station, the switch may be closed to operate the tuning motor and cause the sampling operation to be repeated. The parts may be of any suitable values and any desired voltage may be used to obtain the desired results. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to any particular type or size of radio or television, the invention being applicable to any type of signal seeking radio or television.

Referring now to Figure 2, the circuit 50 is substantially the same as that described in connection with Figure 1 except that a ten second (the number of seconds can be varied, by the use of different tubes) time delay relay tube 51, having built in contacts E, F, is used in place of the condensers A, B, to select each station for ten seconds. As the radio is turned on, the relay 11 closes contacts 56, 57 and opens contacts 59, 60. This closes the circuit of tuning motor 16 to cause the dial pointer to scan the dial. As a station is encountered, the automatic volume control voltage at 20 is applied to the grid 23 through the grid resistor 21 as shown, causing deenergization of relay 11. Thus the tuning motor 16 runs until the voltage at 20 is applied. At the same time contacts 56, 57 open the motor circuit, contacts 59, 60 close the ten second time delay relay tube 51 circuit, which will ten seconds later through its built in contacts E, F, again close the motor circuit starting the scanning cycle all over again. The manner in which the dial is scanned is conventional and need not be described in detail here. When the listener hears a station that he desires to hear, such station may be held by pressing the floor switch 35 with his foot or the switch 33 on the dial. By this action the plate circuit of the control tube 22 is opened, causing the relay 11 to open the contacts 56, 57 which open the tuning motor circuit 16. It also opens the filament circuit of the tube 51 thereby disabling this tube also. This stops the tuning means and holds the station until the next sampling operation is to be started.

While vacuum tubes have been disclosed as the control units, I do not intend to be limited thereto. Furthermore, while this system is particularly suited to auto radios, it has wide application to substantially any type of signal seeking radio.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a signal-seeking receiver, power-operated means for tuning said receiver successively to signals within a "2."In' a signal-seeking receiver, power-operated means I for tuning said receiver successively to signals withina frequency range ofoperation,.rneans.responsive.:.to a received'signal for stoppingsaid tuning means, said. last means'including a relay which-is energized toeifect operationofsaid tuningmeans and is deenergized to stop the tuning means, means to etfectautomatic. reenergization of said relay after a predetermined short time interval following each signal-responsive. deenergization .of .the relay, whereby the tuning of the receiver proceeds automatically-from signal-to-signal'but stops for. a short intervalon-each signal to permit the user to decide whether .he -.desires-.that. signal, and means. operable by the user to prevent the. automatic reenergization of said relay whenever the tuserdesiresthat the receiver shall remain tuned toa signal then being received.

3. In, asignal-seeking receiver, power-operated means for tuning said receiver successively to signals within a frequency range of operation, means responsive to a received signal for temporarily stopping the operation of said tuning means during a predetermined short time interval, whereby the tuning of the receiver-proceeds automatically from signal-to-signal but-stopsfor a short interval on each. signal to permit the user to decide whether he desires that signal, and means operable by the=.user for interrupting the automatic signal-towsignal tuning whenever the user desires that the; receiver shall remain tuned to a signal then being received.

4. In a signal-seeking-receiver, power-operated means for tuning said receiver successively tosignals-within. a frequency range of operation, a-relay operatively-iassociated with said tuning means sorthat energization .of the relay efi'ects operation of said tuning means and deenergization of the relayeflfects stoppage of said tuning means, means. responsive to a received signal for deenergizing said relay to stop said tuning means, means automatically efiective to'reenergize said relay to restart said tuning means after a predetermined short time interval following each stoppage of the tuning means, whereby the tuning of the receiver proceeds automatically from signal-to-signal but stops for a short interval on each signal to permitthe user to decide whether he desires that signal, and :means operable by the user to prevent the'automatic reenergization of said relay and thus interrupt the automatic sign'al-to-signal tuning whenever the user desires that the receiver shall "remain tuned to a signal then being received.

5. 'A signal-seeking receiver according to claim 4, wherein the means. for. effecting automatic reenergization of said relay includes a capacitor which is charged during operation of said tuning means and is discharged at a predetermined rate to provide a time delay between each stoppageof thetnning means and thesubsequent reenergization of the relay.

6. A signal-seeking .receiver according .to claim 4, whereinthe means for efiecting automatic'reenergization of said relay includes a ither'mallyaactuated switch.

.7. In a signal-seeking receiver, power-operated means for tuning said receiver successively t'o fsignals within. a frequency range of operation, a. relay operativelyassociated with said tuning means so that energizationof the relay efiectsoperation of said tuning meansv and deenergization offt he relay effects stoppage of .said tuning means, means responsive to a received signal for deenergiz ing said relay to stop said tuning means, means rendered efiective by deenergization of said relay to initiate'a timing interval of predetermined short duration and to effect automatic reenergization of said relay at the expiration of said interval,.whereby the tuning of the receiver proceeds automatically from signal-to-signal but stops fora short time interval on each signal to permit the user to decide whether he desires that signal, and means operable. by the user to prevent the automatic reenergization of said relay and thus interrupt the automatic signal-.to-signal tuning whenever the user desires that .the receiver shall remain tuned to a signalthen being received.

References Cited inthefile of this, patent UNITED- STATES PATENTS 2,572,926 Gull Get-30, 1951 

